May 25, 1899] 
NMATORE 
89 
ing of optical goods. All this is rapidly changing, as indeed 
was to be desired. Half a century ago, the qualification for 
practising as a surgeon was practically a mere serving of inden- 
tures, while the trade of druggist might be practised by one 
who had never had any instruction in even the elements of 
chemistry. There was no organisation to examine the candi- 
dates, or to certify them if qualified ; there was little stimulus 
to study. Hence, in the absence of any controlling body, the 
young men growing up in the optical trades have had little in- 
ducement to acquaint themselves with even the elements of the 
science on which their industry is based. Even those who 
might be studiously inclined found little to encourage them ; 
for, strange to say, the existing text-books of optics are of little 
or no use to such. They are written mostly from a different 
standpoint, to enable University candidates to pass academical 
examinations, and fail to deal with many of the problems that 
present themselves to the practical optician. Further, great 
examining bodies, such as the Science and Art Department and 
the City and Guilds of London Institute, have never formulated 
any examinations in optics or optical instrument making. 
The present salutary movement has originated quite outside 
academic circles, having arisen in the ancient London guild 
called the Spectacle-makers’ Company, which, like so many of 
the old London guilds—the Clothworkers’, the Leathersellers’, 
the Carpenters’, and the Plumbers’ Company—has most laud- 
ably devoted of its funds to the promotion of the industry from 
which it takes its name. The Spectacle-makers’ Company is 
not one of the twelve great Companies holding landed property 
nor possessed of great wealth. Relatively to the great City 
Companies, such as the Mercers, Goldsmiths, Fishmongers, 
Drapers, it is poor. But it has shown much energy and enter- 
prise in organising the certification of opticians. Briefly, what 
the Spectacle-makers’ Company has done is this: it holds at 
least twice a year examinations in optics, open only to those 
who have entered the optical trades ; and on those who have 
thus shown a real acquaintance both with the theory and the 
practice of their trade, it confers a diploma or certificate, and 
registers them as qualified in optics. It further admits them to 
the freedom of the guild. The stimulus thus afforded to those 
in the optical industry in this country has been undeniably very 
great. Optical classes have been eagerly sought in London, 
and have also been held in many provincial towns, and a wide- 
spread demand for optical literature has sprung up. 
The scope of this movement may best be understood by a 
reference to the official syllabus put forward by the Spectacle- 
makers’ Company. It states that when the Company was 
granted a Royal Charter in 1629, spectacles were practically the 
only optical instruments dealt in; but with the progress of 
science as other instruments were invented, the spectacle-maker 
became a general optician. With the division of labour which 
arose, the trade became divided. It is the object of the 
Spectacle-makers’ Company to re-associate with the guild all 
who possess the necessary technical ability. A theoretical and 
practical examination must be passed by those candidates who 
are recommended as eligible by two established members of the 
craft. The full examination comprises arithmetic, algebra, 
trigonometry, elementary heat and light, as well as general 
optics, optical instruments, and spectacles, practical tests in 
optical work, in visual optics so far as instruments are con- 
cerned, and in matters connected with one of the following 
instruments: the camera, the microscope, and the sextant, at 
the choice of the candidate. The part of the examination re- 
lating to visual optics deals with the general anatomy of the 
human eye; the course of light passing through the eye and 
modified by lenses, cylinders, and prisms. It deals also with 
the simple ‘errors of refraction,” otherwise called hyperme- 
tropia, myopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism. It requires a 
knowledge of trial lenses, test types, astigmatic charts, and the 
optometer, &c. In the practical tests, candidates are required 
to execute measurements of focal length, and to verify cylin- 
drical and prismatic lenses ; to use the spherometer ; to deter- 
mine the axis of a cylinder and the deviation of a prism; to 
neutralise simple and combined lenses ; to transpose lens com- 
binations ; and to centre and adjust lenses and frames, &c. It 
has been the practice, at the inauguration of similar schemes, to 
make some exceptions by admitting without examination those 
men who had long been in practice. But the Committee of the 
Spectacle-makers’ Company decided that even such should be 
examined ; it conceded, however, that down to July 1, 1899, all 
who had spent seven years in ithe optical business might be 
NO. 1543, VOL. 60] 
accepted, provided they succeeded in passing that part of the 
examination which relates specially to spectacles. 
The Optical Committee has itself organised classes for optical 
instruction, and has carefully limited the training so as not to 
trench on the province of the ophthalmic surgeon. As examples 
of this case, it may be stated that students are specially instructed 
that they are not to treat disease, or any case of myopia above 
seven doptres, but refer such to an ophthalmic surgeon ; and so 
also the cases of children whose punctum proximum is beyond 
10 centimetres, or any persons who cannot, when corrected for a 
simple error of refraction, see 20/20 print. 
The first examinations under this scheme were held in 
November 1898, and they were followed by a second series in 
March 1899. The examiners selected by the Optical Com- 
mittee of the Company were Prof. Silvanus Thompson, F.R.S., 
Dr. Lindsay Johnson, and Mr. G. Paxton of the well- 
known firm of Curry and Paxton, the latter being assisted 
in the practical examination by Messrs. A. A. Wood and W. 
A. Dixey. At each of these examinations over a hundred 
candidates presented themselves. The examinations were 
strictly on the lines indicated, no questions being set as to the 
diseases of the eye, or in retinoscopy, or on matters outside the 
province of optics proper. 
At the outset, it was necessary to guard against any mis- 
apprehension as to the scope and nature of the examination 
scheme, which might have led to difficulties between opticians 
and ophthalmic surgeons, such as those which in time past have 
arisen between pharmacists and qualified medical practitioners. 
Very wisely, it was decided that the examination should be con- 
fined to optical matters, and should not treat of disease, nor 
even of the eye at all save as an optical instrument. The 
examination is to test candidates solely in matters of optics, so 
as in no way to interfere in things that lie within the exclusive 
province of the ophthalmic surgeon. In pursuance of this 
policy, the application of the ophthalmoscope to the eye, which 
isa matter for the ophthalmic surgeon, is excluded from the 
subjects of the examination. On the other hand, the principle 
of construction of the ophthalmoscope, which is a matter within 
the province of the optical instrument maker, is included. 
Recognising that the use of drugs, such as cocaine and homa- 
tropine in retinoscopy, is purely a matter for the ophthalmic 
surgeon, the Spectacle-makers’ Company not only excludes from 
its syllabus of examinations all optical tests implying or requiring 
their use, but it sternly discourages the idea that an optician 
should go out of his sphere to meddle with such matters. Nay, 
further, it requires, amongst the conditions upon which its 
diploma is held, that the holder shall sign a declaration that he 
will not use any drugs for the purpose of dilating the pupil. 
It is believed that the firm stand thus made officially by the 
Spectacle-makers’ Company will have a beneficial effect in 
stamping out a practice which—particularly in certain provincial 
centres—had been growing up of opticians, devoid of any 
medical qualification, administering drugs such as homatropine, 
and pretending to make retinoscopic tests that ought to be left 
to the ophthalmic surgeon. In yet one other direction the 
certification and registration of opticians will, as it becomes 
general, promote the interests of the public. There are, un- 
fortunately, in many towns advertising opticians absolutely 
unqualified scientifically who deceive the public by pretending 
to impossibilities such as the curing of cataract without oper- 
ation, and the like. The Medical Acts are unfortunately 
powerless to reach these ; and hitherto the public has had no 
means of distinguishing between them and the really qualified 
opticians, since until now there has been no organisation to 
register the properly-qualified optician. But as the certifica- 
tion of really qualified opticians becomes general, it will be 
possible to detect and eliminate the quack, whilst the qualified 
optician will be deterred, at the risk of being disbarred, from 
issuing advertisements that would mislead the public. Already, 
even at this early stage, the advantages of organisation have 
become apparent, the Committee of the Company having already 
several times been called upon to intervene to insist on the 
withdrawal of advertisements which might be thought mislead- 
ing to the public or unfair to other opticians. , : 
The impulse to optical studies has been undeniable, and is 
certain to spread. The demand of the younger men in the 
optical industry for optical teaching that will be of service to 
them will certainly modify the abstract and jejeune courses of 
scholastic optics offered to them in some of the provincial 
University colleges, where the optics of the workshop, and even 
